Thursday, November 22, 2012

I am thankful for a lot of things.
Coffee.
Writing.
Rain.
Sun.
Coffee.
My kidlet.
My friends.
Love.
Coffee.
Joy.
Peace.
Health.
Did I mention coffee?
My smexy muse.
My attitude-generally, I'm a cup is half-full kinda gal, at least when it's not runneth-ing over. Things have been amazing lately with my writing, and I am super grateful for that.
I am thankful for so many people. Ones Who came for a reason. Ones who came for a season.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

I am up to my ears in edits.
This is good for the stories being edited.
This is bad for my NaNo word count.
Therefore, I am going to get editing as quick as I can, and just promise myself I will finish my NaNo project as quick as I can.
It's awfully cute, and deserving of being finished and pubbed as quick as possible.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Today I begin working on my Nano story. Oh, don't get me wrong, I started right at the beginning of the month... and then I got side tracked by another, earlier deadline which I have just finished up writing the piece for.

So, in reality, Nano is starting for me today. I'd best get hopping. I haven't even anything exciting to share with you as far as works in progress, as I've decided to suspend my normal blog story for the month of November.

I'll be starting back up with the Wednesday Work in Progress and the other regularly scheduled events on December 1st, but for now I'm just scrambling to get caught up and back in the running to complete my Nano story on time.

Later, babies. And if its any consolation, the story I just finished is 30k of warrior vamps and pretty Cuban boys. :)

Friday, November 9, 2012

But I have to take a moment to try to get this info to as many peeps as possible. Please read, and share with anyone who might need it. Please. I thank you from the very bottom of my heart. I copy pasted it from an email sent to me.

~~Cherie Noel

Dear Cherie,

While many of us are still basking in the glow of our historic wins on Election Day, it is important to remember that many of our friends and family are still struggling, and will for many months to come, to recover from Hurricane Sandy and this weeks winter storm. Over the past few days Marriage Equality USA has worked with many national and local organizations to put together this statement of resources addressing the unique challenges for members of the LGBT community affected by this disaster. As someone who has worked in disaster management for seven years, I know how difficult this time can be and please feel free to reach out to me personally by replying to this email if I can be of any help to you or your family and please share this with others who may find it useful.

In Solidarity,

Brian Silva

Executive Director, Marriage Equality USA

JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING THE DESTRUCTION OF HURRICANE SANDY AND WINTER STORMS AND CHALLENGES FACING LGBT PEOPLE AND FAMILIES

Recently we have seen massive destruction across the eastern United States as a result of Hurricane Sandy and winter storms. But in the midst of this tragedy we have also seen a tremendous outpouring of support and generosity within the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

In an effort to support those affected, the undersigned organizations have compiled the following list of resources for any LGBT people and families who may be facing additional challenges in the face of this disaster.

EQUAL ACCESS FOR LGBT PEOPLE AND FAMILIES

We know that because same-sex relationships and transgender identity often are not recognized and respected as others are, it can make accessing assistance during times like this even more difficult. Here are some key contacts and guidelines to help you and your family:

The American Red Cross has a non-discrimination policy in accessing its shelters and applying for disaster assistance. LGBT people and families should be able to register and be housed as families and with access to facilities appropriate to their gender identity in their shelters. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly, first contact the shelter manager. If that does not help, or you are unable, please contact your local Red Cross office or the Corporate Ombudsman at 202-303-5399, 866-667-9331 or ombudsman@redcross.org.

FEMA also has a non-discrimination policy in accessing disaster relief. Assistance covers the entire household regardless of who is living there and their marital relationship, and of every person's gender identity. For more information go to http://www.fema.gov/civil-rights-program. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly contact their Office of Equal Rights at 202-646-3535.

How families are treated can vary from state to state when it comes to disaster assistance. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly based on your sexual orientation, marital status or gender identity, contact any of the following for help:

Your local legislative representative or state office of civil rights.

Lambda Legal's Legal Help Desk, which can be reached toll free at 1-800-542-8336 and at http://www.lambdalegal.org/help. If you have difficulty getting through on the toll free number or by email (which are supported in NYC), feel free to call the Help Desks of any of the regional offices in Atlanta (404-897-1880), Chicago (312-663-4413), Dallas (214-219-8585) or Los Angeles (213-382-7600).

For those in New England states, the Legal InfoLine of Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders at 1-800-455-GLAD (4523).

WHAT CAN I DO?

We encourage all members of the LGBT community to assist in the response and recovery any way possible, including:

DONATE: Consider supporting the American Red Cross or one of the many local LGBT organizations in these communities whose mission has been impacted by the storm

VOLUNTEER: Consider giving your time if you live near the impacted area. For volunteer opportunities contact your local government office, or state or local LBGT organization

ADDITIONAL LGBT RESOURCES

If you or a young person you care about is having trouble coping or is thinking about suicide, please call these free and confidential services, available 24/7:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) LGBTQ adults 25 and older and non-LGBTQ people

Local bar associations and relief agencies may organize legal support resources in the coming weeks to assist with insurance claims and other legal needs not caused by discrimination. Your LGBT community legal and advocacy groups may be able to provide information about those resources when they become available.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Okay, so no actual wings were involved.
There was slightly less than two hours of sleep though.
Still and all? Got my tooth shaved at the dentist. Dude, the shaving cream for teeth is really nasty. No, really.
Got over 1,600 words in despite being bombarded by lack-o-sleep stupidity and a woefully long list of errands to run...

I'm very proud of my little handful of words. It wasn't writing up a storm, as I told a friend, but well, more of writing up a very small shower. :) But words are words, and they all add up in the end, right?

Okay, I'm off to bed now. Gotta get up early, get some writing in, do some edits, vote, maybe do a little laundry. Normal everyday stuff. Pick out classes.

I'm gonna see if they have a knitting class. Or one in cleaning and exercising effectively in your sleep, so all of my awake time can be split between doing fun stuff with the kidlet, writing, and caring for my sweet (if imaginary) cabana boys.

Catch you tomorrow, babies.

For now? If you gots a dream, and you haven't got there yet?
Go on.
Get you some!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Hurricane Sandy Relief - Story Auction Rules/General Information

Hey, all! In case you missed the info, Babes in Boyland is hosting a charity auction for Hurricane Sandy Relief... and they will be auctioning off stories in exchange for donations to assist with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The auction listings begin in the post below the one I've linked to. Please read the entire linked post before bidding.**Auctions will be open from now to 7PM CST on Friday, November 9th.**Thank you! Muah!!

Weekends are family time here in my house. Last night was movie night, and today weekly cleaning. Okay, the routines are fairly new, but the need for family time is an ongoing thing, and my kidlet and I are trying for a more cohesive, pre-planned time to just do fun stuff together.

These goals do not leave a lot of time on the weekend for writing.

Joe is resting, so as to be ready to help me jump back into the fray on Monday. I've been sneaking in two or three hundred words here and there, but not much else. I'm not giving up, or even adjusting my goals downward for this month... I'm just trying to be realistic about what I'm doing. I'm also seeking that ever elusive little imp, balance.

Wish me luck. if things get straightened out, then by mid-week next week, we should be back to regular programming here at the Cave, in addition to the NaNo updates.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

I've just a moment to say I am both excited and scared to be doing NaNo again this year. I crashed and burned last year, and want to do better this year. At least this year I have a writing buddy... well, he's more tech support than anything else... I'll be posting snippets from the work, and bits and pieces about what the process is like for me here.

Today at the Cave is: Cold. Rainy. Perfect weather for a serious (or goofy, haven't decided which yet) writing day. I'll stop back in later with a word count, but for right now it's at zero for the event, day, and month. Let's see how well I do with changing that. :) At least I found so good pics to inspire me... like the fellow to the right here. He looks just like the pic in my head of Lewis, one of my mc's from the project. Good luck to all my fellow writers, and here's hoping we all end the month with fabulous new books. Me? I gotta get hopping on writing my story... Bunny Business. ~Cherie

It Gets Better

Contributors

The Trevor Project: It Gets Better

Remember, baby, you're not alone.

Rescue Twinks #3

Michael Rose: stubborn, bossy and built like a pro-football player. Andy WeiB: beautiful, stubborn and built like a runway model. Oil and water don’t seem like much together either until you stir in the right amount of spice and shake them hard. Andy calls Michael his stalker, and until he’s got the man right where he wants him, Michael will call Andy by any name but love…

Rescue Twinks #2

Meeting the “one” at the local Christmas Village where he’s playing Santa and you’re on-call as a sexy elf in shimmering Elf-A-Go-Go shorts, getting to happily ever after should be a snap, right? Right? Well, not if you’re Adrien Jimenez, possibly the only pretend elf in the world whose picture comes up if you do a Google image search for Murphy’s Law. Mix in a brother with a penchant for creating embarrassing videos and an itchy finger on the YouTube upload button, a brand-spanking new boyfriend with some tricky issues of his own and a bff trying to dress you up in his kid sister’s Ren-Faire cast-offs, anything that can go wrong is almost bound to do so. Oh, and don’t forget the unbalanced stalker coming for his one true love… Come on back to the land of The Rescue Twinks. We’re calling a level seven Black-Sparkle Glitter Alert, so heist up your hose and come at a run!

A Rescue Twinks Novel

Sometimes, even the klutziest elf can find love!

The Soldier & The State Trooper

Sure, we all know the road to love's full of potholes and unexpected detours...but did you know there are speed traps too? Find out more in Christie and Robert's story: The Soldier and The State Trooper, now available at AllRomanceebooks, Amazon, Fictionwise, and MlrPress.

GayRomLit Special Edition: Don't Read In the Closet

Featuring my M/M/M romance, Kiss & Tell

Add my books on Goodreads!

Just click on the Goodreads button, scroll down to the "my books" section of my author page, and add away!